28 month old daughter doesn't eat and is tiny

[Siankathryn0812]

Hi all,

Just after a bit of advice. My daughter was born 01.05.17 and was a healthy baby (7,10 born) since I weaned her at 6 months she hardly eats. At first it was put down to her being fussy or learning about food and what she likes. We are now 2 years later and she still doesn't eat.

She was weighed at the doctor yesterday and was 10.2kg and 81cm height. She is so small everyone comments on it and I'm struggling to get clothes to fit her ( she's still in 12-18 month clothes).

We are under the health visitor and being referred to paediatrics but I am worried about her.

Anyone had anything similar with their little one?

Thanks

I had this with DS2 (also in 12 month clothes aged 2 1/2) but we knew why. He had severe gastric reflux, so eating was unbearably painful to him.

Does your daughter seem in pain or discomfort often? Does she cry when she eats or writhe? Is she often physically sick? If so, this could be the cause.

With DS we found he'd take two bites or spoonfuls then stop, so we learned to pack as many calories into two spoonfuls as we could. I recommend you do the same. Tiny sandwiches of wholemeal bread with cream cheese or peanut butter and jam or chocolate hazelnut spread. If she drinks milk, use full cream and add Abidec vitamin drops. Make cakes with extra eggs and substitute normal flour for soya and almond flours so there's added protein.Use cream cheese and icing sugar for the frosting on top.

Give tiny portions of food really often instead of three meals and two snacks. I used to post food into DS's mouth while he was playing, so he didn't pay attention to it going in. I'd keep pots of chopped banana, avocado, apple, cucumber, pear, squares of sandwich etc and just put tiny amounts into him all day long. At meal times, when we sat up to eat, he'd get a treat instead of real food, so as to associate food with pleasure. We also (under medical advice) gave him more sugar and fatty foods than you'd normally want to give a child that age, as they are appetite triggers. It was a very very slow process and he's still tiny for his age but he's no longer underweight. He's really sturdy and strong.

Thank you so much for your comment.

I know I'm worrying for nothing but it's always hard when there's nothing you can do and people are starting to notice how small she is!

Nice to hear others experiences.

Hi

I have a similar issue with DD - she's in 18-24 clothes at nearly 3. I think she just has a small appetite. Do you have any specific health concerns? Or is it just that she's small?

I don't think there's anything wrong with her medically or someone would have spotted it by now. I'm just worried she's going to grow up with an aversion to food, I offer her everything during the day and she hardly takes anything. Or says she's hungry, looks in the cupboard/fridge and goes I don't want anything!

I what does she eat?

Can you cram as many calories in as possible for when she does eat? Eg butter/full fat milk/cheese/peanut butter e c?

My friends daughter is undersized because she had adenoid problems and struggled to eat and breath at the same time, consequently stopped eating.